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Using the siwak after a meal
The siwak always accompanied the prophet [pbuh]
The Beloved [pbuh] brought to the people something..
they did not know to be a means of cleanliness.
One of these things that he taught the people is the siwak [tooth-stick].
The siwak is a simple prophetic tradition
but its reward and its impact is really enormous.
Some of the huge worldly and physical benefits of the siwak are
that it cleans and whitens the teeth,
strengthens the gums,
fights cavities,
removes harmful bacteria,
and helps digestion.
It’s also beneficial to the mind.
Also, some of the spiritual benefits are that:
it drives away the devil.
The devil runs away from a person that carries a siwak.
It multiplies the rewards, the good merits, and the prayers.
It helps one remember the shahᾱdah when dying,
meaning that it is one of the causes of a good ending.
One of the greatest benefits of the siwak is that it is:
A means of attaining the Lord's Pleasure.
the Beloved [pbuh] said in this great heading:
“The siwak is a means of attaining the Lord’s Pleasure,
and a means of purification for the mouth."
In another narration: “an object of anger to the devil.”
Some were amazed at how this stick that is used to clean the teeth
can be a means of attaining the Lord's Pleasure.
Look at how the Beloved [pbuh] connected our human acts,
that pertain to our health and hygiene,
to lofty and exalted matters,
or rather to the loftiest matter: God's pleasure.
It is recommended to use the siwak more than 20 times a day.
Of the most important things for us to know
is that the objective of using the siwak
is to clean the mouth and teeth, and to freshen one’s breath.
All of this can be achieved through any means
but the best is that which has reached us through the Messenger of God [pbuh]
and it is the stick of the ʾArak tree
which is one of the miracles of the Messenger of God
because it contains ingredients that clean and disinfect..
and are very beneficial to all parts of the mouth.
If one is unable to find a ʾArak stick,
he can use a stick from the palm branch,
or the sweet basil plant
or from any plant that has a pleasant scent
or with a toothbrush and toothpaste
that we and the rest of the world use today.
“Were it not that I would be overburdening my community...
...I would have ordered them to use the siwak before every wuḍu.”
The Beloved [pbuh] had a special manner of using the siwak.
If we utilize this prophetic way,
we would have done many recommendable acts
just through this one prophetic tradition
increasing the reward and the benefit, both to our health and our hereafter.
It is recommended to hold the siwak
in the manner the scholars have mentioned
that has reached us through the Messenger of God [pbuh]
One should place the stick
between his thumb and his little finger
and on top of the other fingers
It is also recommended to wash
and moisten the stick with water before using it.
Then when we want to use the siwak,
we start with the right side
and with the top portion.
So we begin from the top
then go to the bottom
moving the siwak in a circular motion like this.
Then we pass it over the front portion of the teeth
then over the back portion.
Then it is recommended to wipe the tongue with the siwak three times
and the upper palate three times as well.
The Messenger of God taught us to brush horizontally with the siwak;
so naturally, someone might say that
there might be food stuck between their teeth,
for this reason the prophet [pbuh] informed us that...
...it is recommended to pick one's teeth.
So if a person wanted to use the siwak,
it’s best to pick his teeth before using the siwak
to ensure there’s nothing stuck between his teeth.
Once he’s done with the siwak,
it is recommended for him to wash it
in order to clean the siwak of any saliva.
This is a really beautiful manner of using the siwak.
If a person were to practice it
he would earn a great deal of good merits
and become a follower of the Messenger of God [pbuh].
Research says that the ʾArak stick surpasses modern toothpastes.
Because of the great care our Beloved [pbuh] had for the siwak
he never left it regardless of whether he was home or on a journey.
Due to this great care, it was the job of the magnificent companion
ʿAbdullah bin Masʿūd
to carry the siwak of the Messenger of God [pbuh].
The Beloved [pbuh] used the siwak at many varying times
the most important of which is before ablution
and before prayer because he [pbuh] said to us,
“Were it not that I would be overburdening my community...
...I would have ordered them to use the siwak before every wuḍu,”
and in another narration, “…before every prayer.”
But the siwak is recommended at many occasions, amongst them:
when leaving the house;
when entering the house;
when waking up from sleep;
before going to sleep;
for any change of breath;
and before reciting the Qur’an.
Most importantly, the siwak is recommended at many occasions;
rather it is recommended to use this siwak at most occasions.
The last instrument the prophet [pbuh] utilized was the siwak.
One of the greatest indicators of the lofty position the siwak holds
with God Almighty and with the Beloved [pbuh]
is the narration of our lady ʿAʾisha: The prophet [pbuh]
during his final hour,
as his spirit was departing,
as he leaned against her chest,
she said, “I saw him looking at the floor...
and there was a siwak there,
so I picked it up and chewed it
to soften it with my saliva,
then I gave it to him and he used it [pbuh].”
She used to brag that the last thing that entered the
mouth of the Prophet [pbuh] before his death was her saliva.
Also, the siwak has the right to brag
that the last instrument used by the Messenger of God
during his lifetime is this siwak,
this great prophetic tradition.
If the siwak had no virtue
other than what took place during the prophet's death,
it would have been enough for us never to leave the siwak
our entire life.
so that we may actualize in ourselves
the meaning of 'following' that is conveyed in God's saying:
Say: if you love God, then follow me and God will love you.